Namibian cyclists pedal to success in Pietermaritzburg

THE third leg of the South African Drifter Cup Series in Pietermaritzburg saw four Namibian cyclist taking part and producing the goods for their country.

The Namibians drove down to participate in this grueling and rather one of the most competitive Mountain Bike Challenge events in that country. The seven kilometer route was five and a half kilometers up-hill and one and a half kilometers down-hill.This was mainly single trail and some jeep track.The setting was in the forest and slopes of the mountain adjacent to the Cascade Shopping Centre.The sub juniors were the first to take up the challenge in which Jaco Blaauw from Prowealth participated.The start was tough but he managed to force his way through to second position after the first lap.This he held until he slipped and was over taken and could not manage to get his second position back.Thus, ending in third position and bringing home a gold medal.In the junior ladies category, Carmen Bassingthwaighte riding in Radio Wave colours, fought from the start against the tough a powering field of elite ladies.She settled into fifth position behind Carla Fraysen who was the second leg gold medalist.After the second lap Bassingthwaighte had passed Fraysen and was opening the gap.By the third lap, the Namibian junior had taken the and led by a comfortable margin.She scooped a gold medal for her brilliant performance.Arno Viljoen, who was sponsored by Radio Wave, also had a massive field to compete against.He settled for third position.After bravely defending his position for three laps, he was unable to hold it until the end.He managed a second bronze medal.Marc Bassingthwaighte, sponsored by GT, challenged the elite category and rode against the best mountain bikers of SA.Bassingthwaighte settle into fourth position.This group had to ride the course six laps, but got a gold in the under 23 age category.The seven kilometer route was five and a half kilometers up-hill and one and a half kilometers down-hill.This was mainly single trail and some jeep track.The setting was in the forest and slopes of the mountain adjacent to the Cascade Shopping Centre.The sub juniors were the first to take up the challenge in which Jaco Blaauw from Prowealth participated.The start was tough but he managed to force his way through to second position after the first lap.This he held until he slipped and was over taken and could not manage to get his second position back.Thus, ending in third position and bringing home a gold medal.In the junior ladies category, Carmen Bassingthwaighte riding in Radio Wave colours, fought from the start against the tough a powering field of elite ladies.She settled into fifth position behind Carla Fraysen who was the second leg gold medalist.After the second lap Bassingthwaighte had passed Fraysen and was opening the gap.By the third lap, the Namibian junior had taken the and led by a comfortable margin.She scooped a gold medal for her brilliant performance.Arno Viljoen, who was sponsored by Radio Wave, also had a massive field to compete against.He settled for third position.After bravely defending his position for three laps, he was unable to hold it until the end.He managed a second bronze medal.Marc Bassingthwaighte, sponsored by GT, challenged the elite category and rode against the best mountain bikers of SA.Bassingthwaighte settle into fourth position.This group had to ride the course six laps, but got a gold in the under 23 age category.